Alexander Meiklejohn (1872–1964) was an English-born American philosopher, educator, and free-speech advocate known for his contributions to academic freedom and First Amendment rights. His work shaped modern liberal arts education and civil liberties discourse.
Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, Meiklejohn moved to the United States as a child. He earned a B.A. and M.A. from Brown University and completed a PhD in philosophy at Cornell University (1897.) He served as dean of Brown University (1901–12) before becoming president of Amherst College (1912–23,) where he introduced progressive educational reforms.
His influential works include Freedom and the College (1923,) Political Freedom: The Constitutional Powers of the People (1960,) and Free Speech and Its Relation to Self-Government (1948,) exploring democratic governance, civil liberties, and education’s role in fostering free thought.
Meiklejohn founded the Experimental College at the University of Wisconsin (1927–32,) promoting discussion-based learning and interdisciplinary studies. Later, he became a leading First Amendment advocate, influencing Supreme Court rulings on free speech.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Alexander Meiklejohn
Civilization is not a burden. It is an opportunity.
—Alexander Meiklejohn
Topics: Civilization
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